Venezuela: farms help cultivate active ageing

Australian and world wide studies show that older volunteers claim a better quality of life than the average non-volunteer. Volunteering not only keeps older people active and involved, but also provides them with a sense of meaning and purpose that paid work may have provided at an earlier stage of life. It has also been linked to the retention of higher levels of functional abilities in older adults.

The National Institute of Geriatrics and Gerontology, INAGER, a department of the Venezuelan Institute for Social Services, recently launched an innovative way to capitalise on the beneficial effects of volunteering. INAGER and local companies have paired up to create “gerogranjas”, or “geriatric farms.”

While the literal translation may sound strange, the program utilises tracks of land set aside for care by older citizens. Participants engage in gardening, farming and raising cattle.

The program, which currently serves over 780 people aged 60+ in 13 rural and urban locations throughout Venezuela, is overseen by a multidisciplinary team composed of medical and social workers, agriculturalists, and gerontologists.

The team evaluates work completed, develops program activities, and monitors the mental and physical well-being of participants. Today, there are gerongranjas located in the seven states in Venezuela.

This initiative provides participants the opportunity to employ their know-how and experiences in a productive manner and all the money generated on the gerogranjas is funnelled back to support the needy older people in rural areas.

For more information visit www.inager.gob.ve